VIDEO: Pendle am dram star proposes to girlfriend in theatrical style

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Published:16:13Wednesday 29 April 2015

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“To marry me or not to marry me”: that was the question as one Pendle am dram star proposed to his girlfriend in theatrical style.

James Bateman (27) and Amy Hindman (21) became the borough’s very own Romeo and Juliet when they got engaged outside the Muni, in Colne.

James Bateman proposes to his partner Amy Hindman outside Colne Muni.

The duo, who both work together in the Pendle Leisure Trust marketing department, were walking towards the Albert Road site when Amy, who was due to be changing the venue’s posters, noticed a huge sign saying “Keep Calm and Amy Will You Marry Me.”

The next minute James, who has performed at The Garrick and as part of Pendle Borderline Theatre Company, was down on one knee, presenting his partner with the perfect engagement ring.

Graphic and digital communications assistant Amy, of Howgill Close, Nelson, said: “Usually I go down to the Muni first thing on a Monday to change the posters if there has been a show that weekend. For some reason my boss suggested that James should come with me.

“We actually walked past a wedding dress shop and I said ‘I really like that dress’ and he said ‘I don’t, it’s too fancy, I like plain ones’. I said ‘If we get married then you won’t like what I wear’, just joking, and then we got to the Muni and I saw this big green poster.

“I thought ‘I don’t recognise that. I started laughing and he got down on one knee.

“I was shocked - we have talked about it, but I never thought about it happening. I liked the idea, as I had always said to him don’t propose to me in front of lots of people because I would just get really embarrassed.”

And James, of Keighley Road, Colne, who also works part-time at The Bookshop, added: “I was over the moon [when she said yes]. I’m still smiling now. I didn’t want fireworks but I wanted something that was us.”

The couple met a few years ago when former Nelson and Colne College student Amy was working at the Thatch and Thistle, in Nelson, and James used to use as a customer with his theatre friends.

After eventually adding him on Facebook, Amy secured herself a date with James - but after a visit to The Green Chimney, in Colne, and a cinema trip, the pair didn’t “hit it off”.

But when Amy joined the Pendle Leisure Trust, the relationship began to blossom, and it was at the after show party of the 2014 pantomime that they finally got together.

They have been left delighted with all their cards and messages following their engagement, and are now ready to prepare for their big day. They hope to get married in September 2016.